Principal Designer - Apparel

YETI Coolers; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

YETI is seeking a Principal Designer, Apparel to shape the future of our premium apparel portfolio. This senior role leads all aspects of design for women's performance apparel and guides cross-functional teams from concept through production.

Ideal candidates bring 10+ years of progressive apparel design experience, deep fabric knowledge, and a track record of influencing senior leaders to deliver brand-right, commercially viable products.

Qualifications

• Over ten years of progressive apparel design experience across performance and branded apparel.
• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Apparel Design, Industrial Design, or a related field.
• Deep expertise in apparel design, fabrics, trims, garment construction, fit, performance attributes, and premium product execution.
• Experience setting seasonal design vision and creative strategy across a brand, product portfolio, or complex apparel category.

Responsibilities

• Set the seasonal design vision and creative strategy across performance and branded apparel, aligning product direction to brand standards and consumer needs.
• Partner with senior leadership to define the apparel design roadmap and connect decisions to business priorities.
• Lead development of innovative, marketable apparel designs from concept through production with emphasis on fit, fabric, and durability.
• Serve as a design expert for women's performance apparel while contributing across men's, women's, and kid's categories as needed.
• Translate seasonal line plans and consumer insights into cohesive product solutions aligned with brand strategy.
• Research trends and materials to inform a disciplined, brand-right point of view for apparel.
• Own design intent, including fabric selection, trims, construction details, fit standards, and color direction.
• Collaborate with Product Management, Development, Sourcing, Merchandising to ensure manufacturability and viability.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Design judgment

Influence

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design/ Apparel Design/ Industrial Design

Job description

At YETI, we believe that time spent outdoors matters more than ever and our gear can make that time extraordinary. When you work here, you'll have the opportunity to create exceptional, meaningful work and problem solve with innovative team members by your side. Together, you'll help our customers get the high-quality gear they need to make the most of their adventures. We are BUILT FOR THE WILD™.

About The Role

We're looking for a Principal Designer, Apparel to help shape the future of YETI apparel. This Senior role is designed for a highly experienced design leader and subject matter expert who can translate brand, consumer, and business objectives into a cohesive apparel design vision that supports the long-term success of the apparel function.

Working with VP Product Creation, Apparel, you'll design across apparel categories and genders, partnering closely with Product Management, Product Development, Sourcing, and senior leaders to bring premium apparel to market. While this role will contribute to the full YETI apparel portfolio, there is a primary responsibility to lead all aspects of design for women's performance apparel, including creative direction, product concepting, fit, fabric innovation, construction, and design intent from early concept through fittings and production.

This role requires strong judgment, deep apparel expertise, and the ability to solve complex and sometimes ambiguous product-design challenges that may impact the broader apparel function. You will influence cross-functional partners, provide design and process guidance, and help ensure YETI apparel is purpose-built, brand-right, commercially relevant, and built to last.

What You'll Do

• Set the seasonal design vision and creative strategy across performance and branded apparel, aligning product direction to YETI brand standards, consumer needs, and business goals.
• Partner with senior leadership to define the apparel design roadmap, represent the design function in cross-functional planning, and connect design decisions to broader functional priorities.
• Lead the development of innovative, marketable, and technically sound apparel designs across performance and branded categories, owning design direction from concept through production with an emphasis on fit, fabric innovation, construction, and durability.
• Serve as an internal design expert for women's performance apparel while contributing specialized expertise across the broader apparel portfolio, including men's, women's, and kid's categories as needed.
• Translate seasonal line plans, consumer insights, performance requirements, and market opportunities into cohesive product solutions that align with YETI's assortment and brand strategy.
• Research market trends, emerging materials, competitive assortments, and consumer expectations, evaluating how those inputs should inform a disciplined, brand-right point of view for YETI apparel.
• Own technical design intent, including fabric selection, trims, construction details, fit standards, color direction, and design specifications that support product quality and manufacturability.
• Independently determine the design approach for assigned categories and initiatives, developing practical solutions that are consistent with functional objectives and scalable as the apparel business grows.
• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Product Development, Sourcing, Merchandising, and vendor partners to ensure designs are manufacturable, cost-aware, calendar-aligned, and commercially viable.
• Guide the creation of detailed design presentations, tech packs, sketches, color direction, and specifications that clearly communicate design intent to cross-functional and vendor partners.
• Lead fittings and product reviews, providing clear direction to refine fit, function, finish, construction, and end-use performance.
• Provide process, design, and product guidance to cross-functional partners and influence the work of others without requiring direct reporting authority.
• Identify opportunities to improve design processes, tools, and ways of working that increase quality, efficiency, consistency, and speed to market.

What You Bring

• Greater than ten (10) years of progressive apparel design experience across performance and branded apparel, with demonstrated expertise across men's, women's, and/or kid's categories.
• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Apparel Design, Industrial Design, or a related field required.
• Deep expertise in apparel design, fabrics, trims, garment construction, fit, performance attributes, and premium product execution.
• Experience setting seasonal design vision and creative strategy across a brand, product portfolio, or complex apparel category.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and cross-functional partners through clear design rationale, strong judgment, and practical recommendations.
• Proven ability to solve complex product-design challenges, evaluate tradeoffs, and make decisions that balance consumer need